Mausoleum.



W. R. CLAYTON. MASOLBUM.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 17, 1910.

W. R. CLAYTON.

l MAUSOLEUM. APPLICATION FILED QUT. 17, 1910.

Patented Sept. 5,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

sfr/ns ica.

MAUSOLEUM.

'Specification of Letters Patent.

i Patented Sept. 5, 191i.

Application ledictober 17, 1910. Serial No. 537,553.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. CLAYTON,

`i a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certainl new and useful Improvements in Mausoleums, of which the following is a specication. Y

This invention pertains in general to mausoleums, and more particularly to public or community mausoleums which comprise a number of tiers of crypts, each adapted'for the reception and preservation of a body, and aims to produce a mausoleum of this character in whichthe bodies received will be cared `for and pgeserved in the most sanitary and sat-isfactory manner and with the greatest protectionto the public against contagious diseases. l

It is a matter of common knowledge that the bacteria which produce decomposition and putrefactionin the human tissues can propagate only in thepresence of moisture. The large amount of water in the human body, usually about per cent. of the weight of the body,.so facilitates the propagation of these bacteria that ptomaines are customarily manifest in the dead body within three days after death occurs.

Itis an object of my present invention to prevent decay andputrefaction of a dead body, by removing all the moisture from the interior of the casket, and reduce the body to astate of absolute siccity.

In order to accomplish this object within the necessarily limited time, my invention contemplates a novel desiccating apparatus in conjunction with a mausoleum and casket so Aconstructed that communication can be v of maintaining a draft of hot dry readily established between the interior of the'casket and the apparatus for the purpose air through the casket until the body therein has become completely aerifled.

A preferred embodiment of my invention which is shown on the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification has been designed with a number ofobjects aiming toward the successful operation thereof, in view.

One of the objects is to thoroughly dry and heat the air before it is admit-ted to the casket, thereby increasing its absorptive qualities.

Another object is to bring:` the dry and baat/ed cir directly 1n contact wthlthe body in the casket and to provide a forced draft of the air so that the desiccation will proceed with all possible speed..

Other objects and advantages lof this invention will become apparent as it is better understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings throughout the various views of which like reference characters refer to similar'parts.

Referring to the drawings-Figure l is a vertical sectional view o'f a portion of a mausoleum and a casket embodying my invention, the desiccating device being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of the mausoleum showing the desiccating apparatus in operating position." Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through the center of the desiccating apparatus. Fig. 5 is a section on 'the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig.' 6 is an elevation of a.

cover attached to the front end of a crypt through which the desiccating apparatus may be connected with the casket disposed within the crypt; and Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

On the drawings, 8l designates the rear walls of a series of tiers of crypts 9. As many of these crypte may be employed in a single mausoleum as may be found desirable or expedient. Each crypt is preferably constructed of concrete and is made of sufficient size to accommodate a casketor coiiin l0. The rear ends of 4adjacent tiers are preferably spaced apart to provide an alley therebetween, as shown in Fig. l, sufficiently wide to accommodate a portable desiccating device designated generally as 11.

The caskets or collins which. are used in the present instance are equipped, when the undertaker trims the same for the reception of the body, with an inlet pipe 12 and an outlet pipe 13. The inlet pipe which extends but a short distance into the casket has its open end slightly upturned, as shown in Fig. l, while the outlet pipe extends along one side and end of the casket communicating with the interior thereof near the diagonally opposite corner. The pipe 13 'is preferably made of flexible material so that it may readily accommodate itself to caskets ofvarious sizes without interfering with the trimming of the casket. The ends of the pipes terminate flush with the upper end of the .casket and are provided with female threads adapted' for thel reception of male coupling members 14 and 15 by means of which the pipes 16 and 17 may be connectedto the pipes 12 and 13 after the casket is deposited in the crypt. The threaded ends of a perforated` bottom 24 above which is lo-V cated a screen 25. Thefspace between the` screen and the bottom is preferably lled withcalcium chlorid or othermaterlal possessing a great affinity for water which will f remove the moisturexfroml the air as it is drawn' into the heating, chamber. At vthe top lof the heating chamber a discharge'passageway26 is connected with the flexible lpipe 16 and when the desiccating process ing 22.

1s to be carried out the free end of this pipe is connectedwith the casket pipe 12 as previously described. The fiexible pipe 17 is connected with an 'e1bow 27 lwhich discharges into the interior of the fan' cas- Within the fan lcasingl upon theshaft28 there is mounted the fan 29 comprising a plurality of blades, and the shaft 28 is preferably directly connected with the motor 23H."

I, This motor which is'carried upon'standards.

30, may be of an electrical' type or if.y preferred, a gas engineer a'gasolene engine may be substituted in lieu of the electric motor. The sole lpurpose of the motor is to l drivei the fan 29, and it will be obvious that any suitable source-of motive power may be employed.

f discharge passageway 31 from the fan ca sin opens directly. into the combustion .cham er 21. This' chamber, as shown in Fig. 4, is'dispos'ed within the heating chamber 20 and has one end thereof projecting below 'the communication with the passage- Way 31 as 'at 32, to receive any moisture whlch may' accumulate within the vchamber as the result of the combnstive action therey in. The top Lof the combustion chamberterminates in a vstack or pipe 33 which may be communicated with the atmosphere outside the mausoleum. Doors 34 and 35 may be provided in the walls of the heating and combustion chambers to permit access to the interior of these chambers, respectively.

A. pipe 36 is connectedlwith a gas supply or a gasolene supply if preferred, and is provided with 'a plurality of branches 37 which terminate in jets or burners 38l Within the combustion ffimmber. The purpose of to thoroughly sterilize 'this air before it is vpermitted to escape to the atmosphere; also lto heat the air in chamber 20v and increase its moisture carrying properties.

The rear end .walls of thecrypts are pro.-

vided with Wedge-shaped openings` 39 through which thewpipes 16 and 17 may be inserted and attached to vthe casket pipes "12. 'and 13. For the purpose of sealing the crypts when the.' desiccating process is oing on, split-plugs 40 are provided whlch may be inserted in the openings 39 around the pipesllG and' 17, and which will effectually stop up the openings and seal the crypt. A receptacle 41 adapted to contain a disinfectantis. mountedv above the. heating chamber and 4terminates vin discharge nozzles 42 and.43 Within ,the stack 33 and the passageway '26, respectively. Suitablehand-valves 44 may be provided to regulate' the-amount of disinfectant which will be.

discharged through the nozzles.

When a casket containing a body has been deposited'in a crypt and the front of the crypt has beeny sealed up in the usual man The heated and dried air is drawn into the casket through the .pipe-12, where it comes directly in contact with the body reposing' therein. 4After circulating around the body the air will be withdrawn from -thecasket through the pipes 13 and 17 into the fan casing 22, from which it Will be discharged by the fan through the passageway 31 into thelcombustion chamber 21. 'In the combustioh chamber, the air Will be subjected' to p the flames from the burners. 38 which will kill any germs or bacteria that might be Withdrawn from the casket and will thoroughly sterilize the air and relieve it of any` contagious4 germs which might be present. Asia furtherl precaution against th`e"spread ing" of'ontagious diseases bywthe airwhich is drawn from the casketfcontaining a dis- -eased body, the disinfectant'from the receptacle 41 is discharged into the passage- -way 26 leading from theheating chamber and also into the stack 33 leading from the combustion chamber. The liquid disinfect-'AI ant admitted into the passageway 26. will be' volatilized and carried along by 'the heated air into the casket` and the further application of the disinfectant to the air dis`- 1' y charged from the combustion chamber Will afford ample protection against the escape of the germs of contagious diseases.

It will be evident from the above description of the operation of this mechanism that the air is drawn through the casket around the body by suction, and this method is' much to be preferred over the circulation of the air through the casket under pressure, for the reasony that if the casket should not be air-tight the air in the crypt surrounding the casket will be drawn thereinto 'and eventually into the combustion chamber, whereas if air Was forced through the casket under pressure some of this germ laden air ivuld probably escapefrom the casketand remain in the crypt, and if the crypt were opened at some future time this air might cause the spread of a contagious disease.4

After the process of desiccation has been carried on until all the moisture has been removed from the body the pipes 16 and 17 are disconnected from the casket and removed f rom the crypt. The pipe openings' 39 are then closed by'a plug 45, as shown at the left in Fig. 1, which is inserted into the wall of the crypt until its outer end is disposed beneath the outer face of the Wall. The aperture 39 is preferably provided with a peripheral groove 46 and after the plug is inserted the depression back ofthe plug head is filled With cement which will engage in the groove 46 to prevent displace-V ment of the plug and hermetically seal the crypt. i

iIn mausoleums so constructed that no room is provided at the rearof the crypts for the desiccating apparatus or Where no openings have been provided in the rear Walls. of the crypts, the desiccating appa ratus may be connected -Wit-h the casket before the front sealing plate of the crypt has been placed in position.

In Figs. 6 and7 I have shovi'n a sectional plate Which may be fastenedover the crypt opening, 'said plate being provided With apertures 48 for -the reception of the flexible pipes 16 and-17. In this instance the lower section 49 of the platev may be securely fastened to the front Wall of the crypt by the usual bolts 50, and after the flexible pipes have been positioned the upper section'l may be placedover the pipes and securely and removably held in position by cam members 52 which are adapted to engage With the upper edge of the plate section. This sectional plate fits closely around the pipes 16 and 17 and practically and effectually seals the crypt While'the desiccating process is being carried out. After the rarefaction is completed the sectional plate may be replaced by the usual sealing plate which affords a permanent seal to the crypt.

While I have shown and describedapre- 'ferred embodiment of my invention it will vice connected with both of said Vculated through' said casket to desiccate the let pipes passing' through the Walls of said receptacle and communicating with the interior of the casket, and a desiccating de'- n pipes, sai-d. desiccating device including an air circulating means whereby a current of air is circontents thereof.

2. The combination of a receptacle adapted to be hermetically sealed, a closed -casket disposed in said receptacle, an air circulating' mechanism, an inlet pipe establishing communication betweensaid mechanism and the inte-rior of the casket, andan outlet pipe establishing communication between the interior of the casket and said mechanism whereby a current of air is circulated through the casket.

3. The combination of a series of crypts provided at one end with apertures, and a portable mechanism equipped with pipes in any of said crypts, said mechanism comprising a heating chamber communicating with one of said pipes, a combustion chamher communicating with the other pipe, and means for circulating the heated air fromy the heating chamber through said pipes into thev combustion chamber.

4. The combinationwith a series of crypts provided at one end with apertures, of a 'adapted to be inserted through the aperture 100 ica casket disposed Within one of said crypts, a

portable mechanism having pipes adapted to be inserted through the apertures in any of the crypts and to communicate With the interior of the casket disposed therein, said mechanism comprising a heating chamber 115 connected with oneof said pipes, a'combustion chamber connected with lthe other pipe, means lfo'r causing the heated air to be discharged from the heating chamber through the casket into the combustion chamber to desiccate the contents of the casket, a burner located. in said combustion chamber, and sa disinfecting apparatus adapted to deliver a disinfectant to the discharge pi ing cham ers. 5. The combination of a crypt provided with apertures at one end thereof, a casketv disposed .within the crypt, a plurality of pipes permanently arranged within said es from the combustion and heatim casketand o ening at one end 'thereof in v ysubstantial almement With the apertures in "the end Wall of the crypt, and a portable "Adesiccating device provided With pipes 'adapted'.to be inserted through the apertures in"said.cryp t and connected with the pipes said' casket whereby communication '1s es s ytablished *between the interior of the casket e and the desiccating device.

`6. The combination of a crypt providedl *with aperturesat one end thereof, alcasket I disposed within the crypt, a plurality of pipes permanently arranged Within said casket' and' opening atone end thereof. lin

substantial alinem'ent'with the apertures inU ythe end Wall of the crypt, and agportable. l desiccating device comprising a heating chamber,a combustion chamber, a fan, and a pair of pipes connectedI with thejheating' chamber and combustion chamber, respectively, and adapted to be inserted through the apertures in the crypt Wall and to connectwith the permanently arranged pipes on the interior of the casket whereby heated air may be circulated bythe fan through the interior of the casket and delivered to' thev V l combustion chamber.

" .located therein, and a 'desiccating device.

' .adapted to be communicated With the inte 7. The combination vof acrypt, a casket Copies of this patent may be obtained for five 'cents each, by addressing lrior of said casket in the crypt, said desic- -With said fan whereby air will be drawn from the. heating chamber through the cas-l ket anddelivered into the combustion chamber, .and Ka disinfecting device for discharging a disinfectant into the pipe leading from .theheating chamber and into 'the'discharge passageway from thecombusti'on chamber.

i. 8. The combination of a crypt having a pipe-receiving aperture in its end Wall, a

casket adapted to be placed in lsaid crypt, anl

inlet andan outlet pipe arranged in4 said casket Withfthe ends thereof projecting out-v side theend Wall of the casket, in position to be :inserted in said crypt aperture, and

meansadapted to be detachably connectedf with said pipes for circulating a current of dry air lthrough said casket. v

" WILLIAM RCLAYTON.

l Vitne'sses:

WM. O. BELT, -M. A. KIDDin.

the Commissioner of Patents,

WashingtomD. C. 

